DataCollection

Sites

When?

• Plant cover should be estimated around “peak green” (when plants are at their greenest)
• This typically occurs in mid July but can vary year to year depending on if it is an early or late spring

Supplies

• Two or more 1 m^2 quadrats divided into 25 (20x20cm) subquadrats: constructed out of PVC and string
  • typically located under the lab
• Data sheets (Download file below)
  • Print on Rite in the Rain paper (*must use a laser printer for this or the ink wont dry**)
• Clipboard and pencil

Download DATASHEET TEMPLATE here

Feild measurments

• There is an 8m long transect in each plot where we measure plant cover each year
  • 1 m^2 quadrats are placed side by side down this transect *Typically we use 2-3 qudrants at a time and work in teams of 3-4 (2-3 observers and/or 1-2 recorders)
• To estimate plant cover do your best to get a birds-eye view of the quadrant
• One 20x20cm sub square represents about % 4 of the area of the quadrant
• Using this as a guide you will estimate the % area of the plot a given species makes up. Typically it is easiest to go square by square and add up as you go

! Calibration !

An important step before you start recording data is to “Calibrate” with the other observers to make sure you are all getting around the same numbers